Volleyball Makes Three On All-NSIC Team

November 2, 2006
ABERDEEN, SD – Three Northern State volleyball players were honored by the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference for their outstanding play this season. Odemaris Diaz made the NSIC First Team, while Kelly Heier and Melanie Perez were named Honorable Mention.

Odemaris Diaz is a senior outside hitter from Vega Alsa, Puerto Rico. She is NSU's leading attacker this season, having notched 397 kills so far this season for a 3.78 kill-per-game average. Diaz has led the team in kills in 17 of the team's 28 matches this season. She tallied a career high 21 kills against Nebraska-Kearney on August 26, 2006.

Senior Kellie Heier (Aberdeen, SD) has been at the forefront of the NSU offense for three years and has been named All-NSIC Honorable Mention. She has totaled 1120 set assists this season for a career total of 3298. Heier is also one of the team's leading defenders with 394 digs this season. She has double-doubled with assists and digs 23 times in 2006.

Melanie Perez is a sophomore libero who has been an anchor for the Wolves' defense this season and has been named All-NSIC Honorable Mention for her efforts. Perez, a native of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, has accumulated 620 digs this season for an average of 5.96 digs per game. Perez has been named NSIC Defensive Player of the Week four time this season. She came up with a career high 44 digs against Wayne State on October 6, 2006. Perez has tallied 20+ digs 18 times this season.

NSIC First Team All-Conference

# Name           School             Pos     Ht    Yr   Hometown
5     Kelsey Kyro                Concordia-St. Paul      MH           5-8      Sr.    Minneapolis, Minn.
8     Jessica Lucia             Concordia-St. Paul      RS            5-9      Sr.    Plymouth, Minn.
9     Erin Contons              SW Minnesota State    OH           5-10   Jr.     Apple Valley, Minn.
12   Maggie McNamara   Concordia-St. Paul      S               5-9      Fr.    Zumbrota, Minn.
13   Megan Wendorff       SW Minnesota State    MH           6-1      Sr.    Kenyon, Minn.
9     Emily Schroeder       Wayne State                 OH           5-11   Jr.     Belden, Neb.
4     Brittany Coleman      Wayne State                 S               5-9      Sr.    Beatrice, Neb.
10   Laura Dolezal            Wayne State                 Lib            5-8      Jr.     Columbus, Neb.
4     Julie Vancura            MSU Moorhead            S               5-6      Jr.     Anoka, Minn.
4     Megan Graham         Concordia-St. Paul      Lib            5-6      Sr.    Dayton, Minn.
12   Odemaris Diaz          Northern State              OH/MH    5-11   Sr.    Vega Alta, PR
12   Michelle Eckhardt     Wayne State                 MH           5-10   Sr.    Ayr, Neb. 

NSIC All-Conference Honorable Mention

# Name            School            Pos     Ht    Yr   Hometown
4     Erin Flynn                   Minnesota, Crookston MH           5’11    Sr.    Bloomer, Wis.
13   Becky Anderson        MSU Moorhead            MH           5’10    Sr.    Fargo, N.D.
9     Maria Steinhagen     Concordia-St. Paul      MH           5’10    So.   Alexandria, Minn.
10   Melanie Perez           Northern State              Lib            5’8      So.   Rio Piedras, PR
7     Megan Pulvermacher           Winona State    OH   5’11            Sr.           Black Earth, Wis.
11   Meagan Brandon      MSU Moorhead            MH           5’11    So.   Orangevale, Calif.
4     Brittney Burns            Bemidji State                 OH           6’0      Jr.     LeSueur, Minn.
10   Kasey Loeslie            SW Minnesota State    MB           6’1      Jr.     Tracy, Minn.
8     Kelly Heier                 Northern State              S               5’6      Sr.    Aberdeen, S.D.
8     Tatiani Santos           University of Mary        MH           5’11    Jr.     San Jose Do- Rio Preto, Brazil

 

Full NSIC All-Conference Release